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Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act
4/2/2024, 8:30 PM
Summary of Bill S 3860
The bill proposes several key provisions to achieve this goal. Firstly, it aims to limit the amount of overtime that nurses can be required to work in a given period. This is intended to prevent burnout and ensure that nurses are able to provide high-quality care to their patients.
Additionally, the bill includes measures to improve staffing levels in healthcare facilities. This includes requirements for minimum nurse-to-patient ratios, as well as provisions for increased monitoring and reporting of staffing levels to ensure compliance. Furthermore, the bill includes provisions for training and education programs to help nurses better manage their workload and prevent fatigue. This is intended to improve patient safety by ensuring that nurses are able to provide the best possible care to their patients. Overall, the Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act is aimed at addressing the issue of nurse overtime and its impact on patient safety. By implementing measures to limit overtime, improve staffing levels, and provide training and education programs, this bill seeks to ensure that nurses are able to provide high-quality care to their patients while also protecting their own well-being.
Congressional Summary of S 3860
Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act
This bill requires certain providers, as a condition of Medicare participation, to limit mandatory overtime for nurses.
Specifically, the bill prohibits hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, home health agencies, rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, and other specified providers from requiring nurses to work (1) more than a previously scheduled shift, 48 hours in a workweek, or 12 consecutive hours in a 24-hour period; or (2) during the 10 hours immediately following the 12th hour worked in a shift during a 24-hour period.
Qualifying work hours include time spent in training, on call, and on standby. The bill's provisions do not apply during declared emergencies or disasters, subject to specified conditions, and do not preclude voluntary overtime.
The bill also establishes (1) certain protections for nurses who file complaints against providers, (2) documentation and notice requirements for providers, and (3) potential civil penalties for violations.
